After doubles by Erik Kratz and Carlos Ruiz into the left-field corner tied the game, Michael Young lined a ball to the same spot for a walk-off single that plated Ruiz for a 4-3 win over the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.

That set off an odd sight: A game-ending celebration. Hugs, high-fives...for a few seconds it felt like the month-long misery of the Phillies’ collapse vanished.

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Of course it hasn’t, but part of the reason Charlie Manuel was fired last week and Ryne Sandberg given the managerial keys for the final six weeks was to see if the interim boss could find a pulse for a team that flatlined. With three wins in their last four games, the Phils (56-70) at least have a faint heartbeat.

For Ruiz, this homestand has brought with it the first true hot stretch of the season for the veteran catcher. After slogging through a year beset by a suspension, injury and offensive struggles, he has seven hits in the Phils’ last three wins.

“I feel great. I’m really happy with myself, working really hard to get my swing back,” said Ruiz, who has his average up to .269. “Hopefully I’ll be able to keep it up.”

“Definitely with everything that happened, it was tough for me. I came back from the suspension, then I got hurt, it’s not an excuse but it was hard to pick it up. There’ s nothing I can do about that, it’s in the past, so I’m going to do my best right now and hopefully I’ll do well.”

“He’s finally just getting his stroke,” Sandberg said of Ruiz, whom he has moved into the No. 2 hole of the batting order. “He’s using the whole field. He’s found a little bit of a hot streak. He had a four-hit game a few days ago. It’s a confidenceb-uilder there. He’s had a nice homestand.”

Entering the ninth it seemed the Phils were going to be victims of a bullpen out-gunned by the opponent’s relievers. Justin De Fratus gave up an RBI single to rookie Nolan Arenado in the top of the eighth that put Colorado up, 3-2.

Cliff Lee gave the Phillies seven strong innings in a start that likely will be followed by a trip on the waiver wire to see if a contender might be interested in making an over-the-top trade offer for him. He allowed a pair of runs in the second inning, but bore down and worked around the nine hits he scattered.

As for Ruiz, he is a free agent at the end of the season, and in a strange way his struggles this season might make him more likely to return to Philly in 2014. However, he’d rather finish strong and make the Phillies – and any other interested team – want him because they believe he can be the same guy named an All-Star last season.

He admitted the future has been on his mind.

“If I said no, I’d be lying to you,” Ruiz said. “It’s something I was thinking maybe not every day, but once in a while. But who knows, it’s not in my hands. All that’s in my hands is to play hard and see what happens.”